Evaporator for household refrigerators



March 18, 1952 H. A. GOLDBERG 2,589,490

EVAPORATOR FOR HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATORS Filed Sept. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 jifgj March 18,1952 H. A. GOLDBERG 2,589,490

EVAPORATOR FOR HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATORS Filed Sept. 11, 1948 Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 18, 1952 H. A. GOLDBERG EVAPORATOR FOR HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATORS Filed Sept. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 -Yizz/qf I G/Qgl? 4w/nce44 fM PM H. A. GOLDBERG EVAPORATOR FOR HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATORS March 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 11, 1948 Patented Mar. 18, 1952 EVAPORATOR FOR HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATORS Harry A. Goldberg, Chicago, 111., I assignor to Standard Refrigeration Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 11, 1948, Serial No. 48,918

7 Claims.

- 1 This invention relates to a refrigerator evaporator in general and particularly to an evaporator used in connection with refrigerators of the domestic household type.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel evaporator of improved type wherein a distributing tube or manifold to receive refrigerant is constructed and arranged to supply refrigerant equally to a plurality of restricted communicating passages leading directly from the manifold and positioned on each side thereof.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a manifold into which, and through which, refrigerant is adapted to flow into connecting branch passages having restricted inlets which increase in size progressively from the forward inlet end of the manifold toward the rear end thereof, each branch passage being individually and directly fed from said manifold so as to insure the proper amount of refrigerant entering into all branch lines, and in that way providingfor an equal pressure drop of refrigerated vapors in all'branch passages and thus assuring proper cooling and preventing so-called hot or warm spots occurring in the evaporator.

A further object is the provision of a new and novel evaporator construction emboding features to insure the proper amount of refrigerant flowing into restricted passages leading from a single manifold into which refrigerant is received, thereby eliminating excessive and unequal pressure drop such as would be encountered where a multiple manifold construction, such as two or more manifolds, is used.

A still further object is the provision of a new and novel method of forming and fabricating an evaporator to permit the evaporator to be assembled quickly and easily at a relatively low cost.

Still another object relates to the provision of complementary means to eifect proper indexing of the parts to speed production and insure uni-v formity and precision in assembly A still further object is the provision of a novel evaporator embodying shelves or supports for the ice cube trays whereby the shelves may be removed and inserted quickly and easily.

Numerous otherobjects and advantages will be apparent throughout the specification which follows: v

The accompanying drawings illustrate a seleted embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved evaporator unit;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a bottom plan view of the evaporator um Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner plate of the evaporator body before being bent to shape;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the outer plate of the evaporator body before being bent to shape;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the inner plate shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the outer plate shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view showing an inside wall of the evaporator and the manner of mounting .the ice cube tray shelves within the evaporator unit; and

Fig. '11 is a, detail vertical sectional view on line 59 of Fig. 10.

' Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view showing the restricted passage leading from the manifold, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness, and showing the branch channels in section.

Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive are sectional views taken on the lines |3!3 to l6--I6 inclusive of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 17 is a bottom plan view, similar to Fig. 12, but showing the manifold tapered from front to rear, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness.

tween the side walls 2 and 3 near the forward end of the body I. An integral flange 1 is preferably arranged at each end of the plate 5, and this flange 1 may be secured to the side wall adjacent thereto. The forward bracing plate 5 also may have a pair of integral flanges 8 which project horizontally from the top and bottom edges of this plate. These flanges 8 serve to prevent the plate from flexing or bending. An opening 9 may be formed in the bracing plate 5 for the reception of suitable refrigeration controls (not shown), which are adapted to be mounted on the forward bracing plate 5.

The rearward bracing plate 6 is interposed between and secured to the side walls 2 and 3 near the rearward end of the body I. This bracing plate 6 has, at each end, an integral flange H] which may be secured to the side wall adjacent thereto. The plate 6 also has a pair of flanges II which project horizontally from the top and bottom edges, said flanges II serving to strengthen the plate 6.

The walls 2, 3 and 4 of the body member I preferably are" formed of an inner plate I2 and an outer plate l3, which said plates are in suitable and proper juxtaposition. These plates are suitably embossed to form a plurality of refrigerant passages arranged between the inner plate I2 and the outer plate l3.

One of the refrigerant passages between. the plates l2 and I3 may comprise a distributor tube or manifold I4. This tube or manifold: It. is formed by embossingthe outer plate [3' so that when the plate I 3 is arranged in position: with respect to the inner plate 12, a proper passage is formed. The tube or manifold I4 extendslongitudinally and medially along the bottom. wall 4 of the body I when the'plates I2 and I3 have been arranged in U-s'haped formation, as shown in Fig. 1. The tube or manifold I4 is closed" at its forward end and its rearward end may be joined to a smallhollow tube or passage l5' whichleads from a suitable refrigeration condensing unit (not shown).

The distributor tube or manifold M communicates with a s'eries of hollow conduits I6A to IBL inclusive, each of said conduits leading directly from the manifold M so that each conduit is individually fed; The conduits l6 extendilaterally outwardfro'm opposed sides of the distributor tube or manifold I4 and thence pass upwardly'along the side walls 2' and 3.- The. cross sectional area of each conduit is reduced or conthe distributor tube or manifold I4, it will seek the channelof least resistance, which 'isconduit ISL; then conduit IBK, etc. By restricting conduit ISL at the manifold more slightly than MK and I (SK more slightly than [6.7, and so on down the distributor tubeit is possible to accomplish an even flow to all parts of the coil, thus giving an equal coil temperature throughout with no non-refrigerated areas, commonly known as deadspots. This arrangement provides that there will be nounwanted pressure drop, as would occur when two or more manifolds are used. It also makes it possible to feed each conduit individually and directly from the manifold.

This arrangement and construction also gives 4 headers on the side walls 2 and 3, respectively. A pair of short horizontal passages or tubes I3 on each of the side walls 2 and 3 provide communication between the conduit IBG near its upper end and the adjacent conduits IBF and 161-1.

The. branches or headers l8 preferably are joined to, and communicate with, the ends of a hollow tube which is interjoined between these headers. This tube 20 may be joined at its center to, andmay have communication with, a second hollowtube 2|, which is preferably smaller in diameter than the tube 20. The tube 2| leads eitherv directly or'indirectly to the aforesaid refr-igeration condensing unit.

A removable ice cube tray supporting shelf 22 is'adapted to be supported in a horizontal position between the side walls 2 and 3 of the body member I. Each of the opposed longitudinal edges of this shelf 22 has an integral flange 23 which projects: downwardly therefrom. The forward .endiiof' each flange 23- has a keyhole-shaped slot 2.4-iwl'iichzis open: at the lower edge ofthe flange, as shown clearly in Fig. 10. The rearward end ofieach fiange; 23 has an elongated slot which is? open". toward-the rearward end of the flange. Tha rearward slots 25' are adapted to engage a pair: of; inwardly projecting protuberances 26,

there beinga protuberance 26 on each of the'side' walls 2' and 3. near the rearward end'ofthese walls. The forward slots 23 oneaeh of the flanges '23 are adapted to engage a pair of inwardly projecting-protuberances 2.1, there'being-a protuberance. 21: on each ofthe sidewalls. 2 near the for- Wardend of'these. walls.

Thershelf: 22 may bemounted between the side walls 2 a-nd3by first engaging the elongated slots 25-with therprotuberances 26, as shown in the full line position-"of Fig. 10; The forward end of the shelf 22tis then lowered-or forced downwardly so that. therke'yhole-shaped slots 24 at the forward end of. thefl'anges 23 engage the protuberances 25,. asishowni'n the'dotted line position in Fig. 10. The keyhole-shaped slots 24 and the elongated 31013325 are shaped so that the shelf '22 will be rigidly'supported in a horizontal position by the protuberances 26 and 21- when all of the slots are infullfengagement. with their corresponding protuberances'.

The-evaporator. is preferably formed and fabricated. by employin a novel method which permits the evaporator to be assembled quickly and easily at at relatively low cost. This method consists'in configurating the inner plate I2, which is in the form of a rectangular sheet of metal. The sheet is first embossed on one side to provide a pair of hollow horizontal ribs 28 which are adapted to form the curved inwardly extending walls of the respective-headers. I8. The sheet is also embossed to provide the two pairs of shelf supporting protuberances 26 and 2! as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The plate I2 is then embossed on the other side thereof to provide a'pair of indexing protuberances 29} as clearly indicated in Fig. '7. A small hole" 30 1s drilled through the center of each of the corresponding recess in the plate I3. The recesses, as embossed in the plate I3, comprise extensions at each end of the convolution which forms the outer wall of the conduit ISG. The plates I 2 and I3 are then tacked together by spotwelding these plates near their outer edges. The plates I2 and 13 may then be spotwelded at spaced points between each of the conduits I6, as indicated at 3|, Figs. 1 and 4.

The plates I2 and I3 are then bent together to form the U-shaped body member I.

The present evaporator is further assembled and fabricated by welding the inner plate I2 and the outer plate I3 together at or near their outer edges by a seam weld, as indicated at 32, Fig. 1. This seam weld 32 serves to prevent any'refrigerant fluid from leaking outwardly from the various refrigerant passagesand between the inner and outer plates I2 and I3 respectively.

The brace plates 5 and 5 are then placed in their respective positions. The end flanges I on the brace plate 5 are welded to the side walls 2 and 3 near the forward end of the body I. Similarly, the end flanges H! on the brace plate 6 are welded to the side walls 2 and 3 near the rearward end of the body I.

As a next step, the tube is positioned between the ribs 28 so that the opposite ends of this tube properly register with the openings 30 in said ribs. The ends of the tube 29 are then joined to the ribs 28 by any suitable means, such as by silver soldering. Finally, the inlet tube I5 may be soldered to the rearward or inlet end of the distributor tube I4 and one end of the outlet or discharge tube 2| may be soldered to the center of the cross tube 20.

It has been found that good results are also obtained if the distributor tube I4 is tapered from its inlet end to its other end, as clearly shown in Fig. 17. In this latter embodiment it may be desirable and practical, also, to increase the restrictions from end to end as shown in Fig. 1'7 as well as in Figs. 12 to 16.

The present invention provides a new and improved evaporator which is strong and durable, and which may be constructed easily and rapidly at a relatively low cost. The invention further provides constricting means for causing the refrigerant to flow from a single distributor tube or manifold by equal amounts through each of a series of branching conduits, so that hot spots do not occur at various points on the walls of the evaporator. Novel means have been provided to permit an improved ice cube tray shelf to be inserted and removed easily from the evaporator.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An evaporator comprising a pair of sheets arranged face to face and bent in the form of a U, forming a bottom and side legs, one of said sheets being embossed to provide a main passage between the sheets and forming a single manifold for the reception of refrigerant, a hollow header at the upper end of each leg, a discharge line connecting said headers, a plurality of spaced conduits leading from said single manifold and terminating at said headers, said manifold having a passage increasing in cross-sectional area from one end to the other.

2. An evaporator comprising a pair of sheets arranged face to face and bent in the form of a U, forming a bottom and side legs, one of said sheets being embossed to provide a main passage between the sheets to form a single manifold for the reception of refrigerant, a hollow header at the upper end of each leg, a discharge line connecting said headers, and a plurality of spaced conduits leading from said manifold passage and terminating at said headers, said conduits hav ing restrictions where they join with the said passage in the manifold, said restrictions decreasing progressively in size from one end of said passage in the manifold toward the other end thereof.

3. An evaporator comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a bottom connecting said side walls,

a manifold at the bottom and forming a longitudinal passage adapted to receive refrigerant, a header adjacent the upper end of each side wall to provide a longitudinal passage in each wall, and a plurality of spaced conduits connecting the manifold and a header on one wall and having communication therewith, said conduits diminishing in size where they connect with the manifold to provide a restriction in each conduit, each restriction being different in cross-sectional area.

4. An evaporator comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a bottom connecting said side walls. a manifold at the bottom and forming a longitudinal passage adapted to receive refrigerant, a header adjacent the upper end of each side wall and forming a longitudinal passage in each wall, a plurality of spaced conduits connecting the manifold and a header on one Wall, said conduits diminishing in size where they connect with the manifold to provide a restriction in each conduit, the cross-sectional area of said restrictions decreasing in size from one end of the manifold to the other, and additional conduits connecting the manifold and the other header, said additional conduits also being restricted at the manifold to provide restricted passages, the cross-sectional area of the restrictions of-the latter conduits also decreasing in size from one end of the manifold toward the other end.

5. An evaporator comprising a bottom member, spaced side walls connected to said bottom, a hollow manifold on said bottom and forming a longitudinal passage to receive refrigerant, a plurality of spaced hollow branch lines connected to the manifold and having communication with the manifold passage, restrictions in the branch lines adjacent the point where the branch lines connect with the manifold to reduce the area of the branch lines, the restrictions diminishing in area in each branch line from one end of the manifold toward the other.

6. An evaporator comprising a bottom member, spaced side walls connected to said bottom, a hollow manifold on said bottom and forming a longitudinal passage to receive refrigerant, a plurality of spaced hollow branch lines connected to the manifold and having communication with the manifold passage, restrictions in the branch lines adjacent the point where the branch lines connect with the manifold to reduce the area of the branch lines, the restrictions diminishing in area in each branch line from one end of the manifold toward the other, said manifold being tapered to provide a passage at one end greater than the area at its other end.

7; An evaporator comprising a hollow manifold having a fluid passage therein, a hollow fluid moved-from the inlet.

inlet; line communicatingiwith; the manifold. pas- S'EflgfiitO *supplywref-rigerant thereto, a plurality 'of adjacentl'y; spaced; hollow branch lines-q leading fromrthevmamfold passageandhaving; communicationftherewith, each branch having; a: constriction; the branch; closest to the inlet having a constriction of smaller area than the other branches, the-other branches increasing in area ofconstriction whereby the branch line closest tothe-inlet'will have the constriction of smallest area "andthe'branch line farthest removed from the inlet will: have the constriction of largest area-,1,:said. manifold increasing, in size from: the

point where the branch closest to the "inlet line connects with the manifold toward. the branch connected to the manifoldwhich is farthest re- HARRY A. GOLDBERG.

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I The fbllowin'g references are of record in the Number Name Date,

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